Jerry McNerney

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to express my concern about events in Israel and Gaza, and my support for Israel's right to defend itself against rocket attacks launched from the Hamas- controlled Gaza Strip. The region must have a meaningful resolution that will permanently end these rocket attacks and open a pathway to alleviate civilian suffering and develop a secure and prosperous Palestinian society. Hamas' rocket attacks targeting civilians triggered the current crisis. Any country is compelled to defend its civilians against attack. The situation in the region has reached a new level of violence, and each civilian death is tragic. The images of suffering innocents, especially children, in both the Gaza Strip and Israel are a stark reminder that it is long past time for this region to know peace. The United States must be deeply involved in the peace process while vigorously working for short and long term solutions that will provide security to Israel and the means for a better future to Palestinians.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the dedication of so many volunteers who eight times a year line the streets of Manteca, California, with 2,400 flags in a stunning display of patriotism. Flags Over Manteca began after September 11 to recognize those who lost their lives on that day and all Americans who have sacrificed in service to our country. Each morning on days of remembrance during the year, volunteers and service groups place flags along eight miles of Manteca's main roads to celebrate our country's heroes. Coordinating it all is the Manteca Chamber of Commerce and volunteer Les Thomas who arrives early to ensure that everyone knows what to do. He is there at the end of the day to receive all 2,400 flags and carefully pack them away until the next holiday. The event has become so meaningful that volunteers arrive at 4:30 in the morning to have the privilege of placing flags in honor of those who will not be forgotten. Today I commend all those who make Flags Over Manteca work. I hope it continues to memorialize the sacrifices of our Nation's heroes.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 598, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I represent the city of Stockton, California, which suffers from the highest foreclosure rates in the country. I have seen exactly how devastating this problem is for communities, and more important, for the families in our district. I hear all too often the heartbreaking stories of people struggling to keep up. In fact, Mr. Cardoza, who spoke a minute ago, and I have had foreclosure workshops to provide counseling to help families refinance and stay out of foreclosure. Our current economic crisis, including the housing market meltdown, can financially devastate many people, and we need change right now so that hardworking American families can stay in their homes. We need to reform the system by raising the conforming loan limits and providing critical relief to hardworking families. I strongly believe that we can help provide the breathing room that families need so they not only weather the downturn, but come back stronger than ever.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, over the next few years the renewable energy industry in the United States is poised to create hundreds of thousands of family wage jobs. But none of it will happen, and in fact we will lose jobs if we don't extend the investment and production tax credits for new energy technologies. As someone who spent my entire career in the wind industry, I know firsthand how critical these credits are to increasing renewable energy use and production. These incentives helped to turn wind power into a viable and growing energy option. Just last week, the Department of Energy released a report estimating that wind could provide 20 percent of our Nation's energy by 2030. Renewable energy is now competitive with conventional power. I recently hosted a meeting in my district with the heads of solar and wind energy companies to discuss the potential for employment in the renewable sector. It's clear, with the right Federal incentives, the industry will flourish, and we could see the creation of half a million new energy technology jobs in just the next few years. There's also a flip side. When the production and investment tax credits lapse, there's a devastating consequence for the renewable energy industry. For instance, the last time we didn't extend the production tax credit, the wind industry lost thousands of good paying, green energy jobs all across our country. That's why today's legislation is so important. If we are serious about weaning ourselves off foreign oil, we need to pass the production and investment tax credits today. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mrs. Helen Myers as the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year. Helen is an extraordinary woman whose entrepreneurial endeavors, generous spirit, and deep commitment to the residents of Brentwood will benefit our community for generations to come. One of seven children, Helen's father passed away when she was only five years old. To support her family during this time of need, she began selling produce from her mother's vegetable garden to neighbors. This entrepreneurial spirit carried into her adulthood, and she is now a successful small business owner of both Irene's Dress Shop and The Weathervane. The only child in her family to graduate from high school, Helen went on to marry Bill Myers. Together they moved to California, and eventually settled in Brentwood in 1968 with their two children, Corky and Sherry. Soon after moving to Brentwood, Helen joined the East Contra Costa Chapter of the Soroptimists International Club, of which she has proven to be both a valuable member and a tireless volunteer. She has not only been instrumental in raising funds for various community projects, she has also served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Delta Hospital Board, the City's Art Commission, and the Art Society Board. Helen's friends and family describe her as someone who is always looking out for others. As an example of her kindness, friends often tell the story of the time Helen caught a young woman shoplifting in one of her stores. After soon learning the woman was homeless and living out of her car with her young child, Helen decided against calling the police, and instead provided the woman with food and clothing and contacted a social service agency to assist her with housing. A few weeks later, the young woman returned to Helen, thanked her for her compassion, and reimbursed her for the food and the clothing. A woman who has given so much to her community, Helen has done so quietly and without fanfare, making her selection as the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year all the more worthy of public recognition. From her countless hours as a volunteer, to her success as a small business owner, Helen has touched the lives of many and has improved the community of Brentwood for years to come. It is for these reasons that I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Helen Myers, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Bishop Lewis Dolphin Stallworth, Senior, who passed away after a courageous battle with kidney disease. Born in Welty, Oklahoma, in 1923, Bishop Stallworth found his life's calling with the church and the community. Bishop Stallworth was a leader in the community, his influence extending far beyond the church that he founded in 1963. Bishop Stallworth volunteered as a police chaplain, hosted a weekly radio program, and frequently participated in local community functions. He also used his church as a place of learning, opening a school, originally located in the church basement, to educate young people. He even organized a group of young men known as Stallworth's Soldiers, counseling them to get an education, stay out of trouble, and become model members of the community. As evidence of Bishop Stallworth's enduring character and unparalleled passion, his love for his family, church and community, less than 5 weeks after his death, hundreds have already petitioned the school district to consider naming a school after him. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of Bishop Lewis Dolphin Stallworth, Senior.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to honor U.S. Marine Sergeant Miguel Hinojosa and 15-year-old Michaela Sullivan, both of Brentwood, California. Sergeant Hinojosa and Ms. Sullivan are an example to us all because they acted quickly to save a young child's life. They do not view their deeds as heroic, which is exactly why we need to recognize their selflessness. On a hot day last month, Ms. Sullivan noticed that a 5-year-old friend and neighbor, who was swimming at their apartment complex, was struggling to stay afloat in the deep water and she rushed into the pool to pull the young girl out. When Sergeant Hinojosa saw the unconscious child who had just been pulled out of a swimming pool, his instincts took over, and he immediately began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions. By the time an oxygen tank arrived on the scene, the girl was breathing. Thanks to the alertness and quick actions of the high school sophomore and the well-trained 13-year Marine veteran, a young child's life was saved. Had it not been for the quick thinking of Sergeant Hinojosa and Ms. Sullivan, a parent's worst nightmare might have come true for one Brentwood family. These two citizens have demonstrated what it means to be a true American hero, and I wish to express my sincere gratitude.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I represent Stockton, California, which unfortunately has the highest foreclosure rates in the country. Many families in northern California have lost their homes and the foreclosures have lead to personal hardships, community instability and national economic risk. When my constituents asked me what Congress was doing to fix the economy, I told them we are pushing to create family-wage jobs and put money back in people's pockets. Today we are building on these efforts by considering legislation that will provide fiscally responsible options for families struggling to stay in their homes. Last December I hosted a workshop for foreclosures in Stockton with my colleague, Dennis Cardoza, to provide housing counseling to local families. While we expected the turnout to be high, participants started lining up 2 hours early and, ultimately, more than 500 people showed up. I heard heart-breaking stories from my constituents, and this is just one single illustration of why today's legislation is so important. One of the biggest challenges facing the housing market is in the high-cost States, like California, that housing programs have not kept pace with the times. Unrealistically low limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA mean people living in the high-cost States have not fully benefited from these programs. The economic stimulus package, temporary loan limit increase to $730,000, raising the loan limit, injects liquidity into the mortgage market to provide access to credit and opens new opportunities for refinancing. However, since these increases are only temporary, it is clear that making them permanent will have beneficial effects for the housing market. I introduced the Homeowner Opportunity Act to permanently raise the loan limits, and I am pleased that today's legislation includes my bill. I want to thank Chairman Frank for all of his support and assistance. This change will benefit my constituents and the entire country.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Today it gives me great pleasure to rise in honor of Staff Sergeant Michael Broussard of Contra Costa County's own Brentwood, California, for winning the 25th Best Ranger Competition, one of the Army's athletic achievements. Held at Fort Benning, Georgia, the competition tests a Ranger's physical and mental toughness and self-discipline. Of the 28 participants, only 16 were able to complete the grueling 3-day athletic competition, which features some of the best athletes in the world. Despite this honor, I believe Staff Sergeant Broussard's greatest achievement is that he repeatedly served this Nation with distinction by completing two deployments to Iraq and two deployments to Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Broussard is a true American hero and an example of the commitment, dedication, and capability of our men and women in uniform on and off the battlefield.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, today it's my pleasure to extend my congratulations to Chris Locke, a walnut farmer from Lockeford, California, who recently earned an award from the Environmental Protection Agency for sustainable farming practices. He tends 580 acres of walnuts on a plot of land in a town that his great-great grandfather founded and which bears his family's name, Lockeford. Chris utilizes pest control practices that reduce the need for chemical sprays. His methods include pheromone-based treatments as well as maintaining plants that attract beneficial insects and birds that control rodents. Chris' motivation is an admirable example of sustainable farming and stands as a shining illustration of the increasing commitment of San Joaquin County farmers and growers to environmentally friendly agricultural techniques. As a pioneer in the field, Chris has generously offered to share his techniques with fellow farmers. It is my honor to recognize Chris and to congratulate him for his well-deserved award.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Thank you, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. Mr. Speaker, we've heard a lot of different aspects of the stress of this war on our soldiers, from the families and the children, to the men and women serving. One thing we haven't talked about is financial stress, and we know that veterans, especially guardsmen and women and reservists when they go overseas, they're particularly vulnerable to foreclosure; and just today in the Veteran's Affairs Committee, we did pass a significant Veterans Housing Authority bill that will be available to those young men and women coming up in the next month or two. So we're working at all parts of this problem and finding ways to help the veterans through the crises that they're going to be facing upon return, and we welcome them back. This country loves our veterans, and we want to do everything we can for them

Mr. McNERNEY. Thank you, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. And first I want to say thank you personally for everything you have done for this institution and for this Nation. The kind of leadership you are showing tonight has been shown over and over throughout your 3\1/2\ years in the Congress, and I look forward to that kind of leadership in the future. I want to say a few things about posttraumatic stress. The marital problems diagram that we saw earlier is a shocking example of the kind of thing that we are seeing throughout society as a result of this conflict. It turns out that about one in five of our soldiers that returns from Iraq is suffering from a serious form of posttraumatic stress. And that correlates very well with the numbers we are seeing in the graph: About 20 percent of divorce in the current year, 27 percent of other problems, 15 percent of infidelity. So we know that those numbers are about right. And this is exacerbated by having extended tours, by staying there longer than 12 months, and by going back repeatedly. And we know now that only about half of the servicemembers who are suffering from posttraumatic stress and veterans are receiving the right kind of treatment or are receiving any kind of treatment or have sought treatment. We know that only about half of those that are looking for treatment are getting the kind of treatment they need. So only about 5 percent of the veterans really are getting the kind of treatment that they need on that. We really do owe the veterans of the country that have served, that have volunteered in this day and age to serve our country, to go to a conflict region, knowing that their lives are in danger, that they could end up with post-traumatic stress, that it is going to be harmful on their families, nonetheless they volunteered to serve our country, to protect our freedom and fight for us back home. No matter how you feel about the war and any of those political issues, we should all agree that we owe our veterans for what they have done for our country. You are finding throughout this Congress, the 110th Congress, that we have made a collective decision to do what we can for the veterans. We have increased the VA budget by $8 billion over the previous year. And that is significant. That is great, but we still need to do a lot more, and we are moving in that direction. Today in the Veterans' Affairs Committee we had some bills on the GI bill for the 21st century which are an extension of the Montgomery GI bill, a terrific advancement to give our veterans the kind of education that they need to be productive members of our society. That money is very, very well spent. I have heard oftentimes that for every dollar we invest in education for our veterans, we get paid back ten-fold. You can see that as a true indication of what happened after World War II. The veterans came back from World War II, and they were given a terrific GI bill, and they have contributed to our society in so many ways in terms of developing our infrastructure, in terms of raising our national stature. And we want to make sure that the veterans coming back from Iraq today have those same opportunities to contribute in other ways than just participating in the war. With regard to the Iraq war, a specific type of injury is the hallmark or signature of this war, that is the traumatic brain injury. Before in earlier conflicts those kind of injuries, a serious form of traumatic brain injury resulted in death. Today they know how to treat that injury. I will give you sort of a graphic explanation. If that is going to be offensive, you better turn off the sound for a little while. Basically in a serious form of traumatic brain injury, you get a bullet or shrapnel lodged in the brain, and what happens is your brain begins to swell from the injury. And so unless that swelling is dealt with very soon after the injury, the subject will die. So what they do in the field now is they open up a large section of your skull. They remove the skull itself and embed that into your GI territory to keep that skull viable so it can be reattached later on. In this situation the brain is allowed to swell, and they will have this proceed for about a month. During that time they need to put you in a cold surrounding. They put a cold jacket on you so you are shivering in your bed for about a month. They keep you on medication to keep the swelling down. When the swelling eventually goes down, they will reattach the skull and let you heal. Another problem is when you have this sort of injury, you are very susceptible to reinjure that, to swell it after they have removed the shrapnel if they can or the bullet. You are very susceptible, so you have to be very careful a year or longer after this kind of injury. We had a young man from my district, from the town of Manteca. It is a small town of about 60,000 people. He was a Navy corpsman and he was serving in Iraq and their convoy was attacked. He was servicing marines that were injured, and a piece of shrapnel was embedded into his brain. It went in through his eye and he lost his eye. He went through the treatment, and then they brought him back to Bethesda, Maryland. I visited him there a couple of times. This is a very long recovery. The young man is doing fine. He is back home now. I can tell you the town of Manteca where he grew up and lived and went to church really came together for him. They had a dinner when he was still in Bethesda. About 300 people came out to the dinner to contribute and to show their support for this young man. It was a terrific outpouring of community and faith and love. It was a terrific thing to be representing this kind of town and this kind of a district where people come together in that sort of way for one of their own. And then when he did come home, the church that he went to, they had a gathering. About a thousand people showed up, and he was there receiving accolades and welcome and love from the entire community. I can tell you, it is a terrible thing to see. Unfortunately, a lot of our young men and women who come back from Iraq don't have that strong of a community. We need to make sure that we provide them, through treatments and efforts to integrate them back into society, to educate them, that they get that sort of opportunity and that they receive the kind of reward that they should for the kind of service and sacrifice that they have made. With that, I yield back to Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and thank you for your leadership.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Chairman, since the terrible events of September 11, 2001, we have relied heavily on the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard to be our eyes and ears against terrorism along our coastal borders and at more than 300 of our Nation's ports. The Coast Guard's homeland security mission isn't new. It began more than 200 years ago when the service was founded. Yet, today, we are more focused on the need to provide maritime security. The Coast Guard has ramped up its efforts to ensure that we don't allow people into this country who intend to do us harm or weapons to unleash upon us. We have improved our ability to deal with potential terrorist threats, but we must keep up the progress. America's security is our paramount responsibility, and our goals must be always to counteract threats against our citizens, address the dangers posed by terrorists, and eliminate the potential for introduction of weapons of mass destruction. My congressional district is home to the Port of Stockton, one of the largest inland ports in the Nation. While it is an economic engine for California's Central Valley, moving everything from agricultural products to wind turbines, it may be viewed as a potential entry point for those who intend to do us harm. Thankfully, the Coast Guard understands the risk and provides constant security that insures continued business and peace of mind. I believe that it's important to highlight the dual responsibilities of the Coast Guard, and we should ensure that the Coast Guard's homeland security missions are not lessened by the licensing and regulatory functions of the Guard. My amendment is both simple and needed. It outlines formally that none of the changes to the marine safeguard mission of the Coast Guard shall impair in any way, the homeland security mission of the Coast Guard. It is important to note that we are not creating new authorizations. We are simply outlining formally the continued importance of protecting our waterways and ports, maintaining coastal security, and securing our borders against aliens seeking to unlawfully enter the United States. Americans deserve to know that our ports and waterways are protected. This amendment does just that by clarifying the Coast Guard's homeland security missions are strengthened by the legislation we are doing today. I consider all of my colleagues support for this commonsense amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Chairman, the purpose of this bill is just to erase any ambiguity that we want the Coast Guard to be involved in homeland security. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I have been all around this great Nation and I have seen the environment change from the 1970s until the present day. When Earth Day was first declared, we had lakes that were catching on fire and we had pollution running in our rivers. We have seen tremendous progress. Our lakes and rivers are much cleaner now and our air is breathable, although it still needs progress, we still need work. The great thing about looking forward with the environment is that we can create jobs, we can make America prosperous. When we trash the environment, everyone gets poorer. We want an America that is prosperous. We want an America that we are proud to pass on to our next generation. Earth Day has been a big part of this. It deserves to be commended and recognized. It is bipartisan. Everybody drinks the same water and breathes the same air. So it is an issue that I think we have broad support on both sides of the aisle. I certainly have support back home in California, and I know that as I go around the country, I see the same level of interest, both in the environment and creating clean jobs and ending our dependence on foreign oil. These are all national security issues. They are issues that are great for our Nation. They are issues that we want to work for, and part of the reason I am here in Congress. So, again, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 1117, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1117) declaring the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of Earth Day and for developing the scientific and technological capabilities to achieve those goals.

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the words of the gentleman from Maryland. His concern is noted and appreciated.

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today, all over the world, concerned citizens are coming together to celebrate the 38th annual anniversary of Earth Day. Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has become an international call to action on behalf of the environment, and I am proud to offer this resolution in support of the goals and ideals of Earth Day. We are constantly reminded of the serious environmental challenges that our country and our world are facing. The greatest challenge, global warming, continues to grab headlines, as it should. We are already feeling the effects of a heating planet, and it is long past time for our country to get serious about climate change. Global warming is a serious threat, but also presents an opportunity and strong motivation to develop the clean energy economy of the future. I spent much of my career before entering Congress as a renewable energy engineer, and I have seen firsthand the development and evolution of the clean technologies that combat climate change. We have much of the scientific knowledge and technical capability to attack climate change head on, but there is still more progress to be made. Today, Earth Day is an important opportunity to rededicate ourselves, both as individuals and as a Nation, to making the best use of the resources available to us. I want to commend the scientists, engineers, businesspeople, and educators who are working to develop the clean economy of the future, as well as the millions of Americans who are taking action to live greener lifestyles. I believe today is an important opportunity to honor the contributions toward a healthy planet. Earth Day is also an important opportunity to look forward to a greener tomorrow. We should renew our efforts to push ahead with research and development of the cutting edge, environmentally friendly technologies of the future, as well as the many smart policies that will preserve our environment. Confronting great environmental challenges will require technological innovation, as well as a forward- thinking public policy. I believe we are up to the task. As important as combating climate change is, Earth Day also reminds us of the other crucial environmental issues of our time. We need to preserve our precious natural resources, and to do that, we have to maintain our national lands, protect biodiversity, ensure clean air for everybody, and make smart investments in environmental cleanup efforts. These are important legislative opportunities before us, and I hope that we will embrace the chance to preserve our treasured landscapes. I am optimistic about our environmental future. Looking forward, I see an America that runs on clean sources of energy and supports a wide spectrum of family wage green energy jobs. I see an America where environmentally sustainable building practices are the norm, not the exception. And I see an America where our most beautiful landscapes are protected for our children and grandchildren. I commend the organizers of Earth Day and the millions of people around the globe who are participating in Earth Day events today. Your dedication is admirable, and I am confident that environmental awareness and activism will continue to flourish. I am also inspired by the grassroots commitment to environmental protection that Earth Day embodies, and I look forward to celebrating many more Earth Days in the future. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the goals and ideals of Earth Day. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, today we received more disturbing news about the tremendous strain that overseas deployments have put on our men and women in uniform. The RAND Corporation released a study that found roughly one in five U.S. troops is suffering from major depression or post-traumatic stress as a result of serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The study also found that even more have suffered some form of traumatic brain injury, often considered the signature injury of the Iraq War. While this trend is not new, this study confirms what we have known for some time: Extended tours and multiple deployments without sufficient down time contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder. What is perhaps most disturbing is the finding that only about half those with PTSD or depression have sought treatment, and only half again received minimally adequate treatment. This means that while one in five of our men and women are suffering, only a quarter of those who come home with these debilitating conditions are receiving the treatment they need. I've heard from veterans in my district who never sought mental health treatment either because it wasn't available or because there was a stigma attached to it. Without treatment, these veterans are at risk of engaging in self-destructive behavior like drinking and using drugs, they may have marital problems, and some even contemplate suicide. This is why we must take this study seriously. These brave men and women offered to lay down their lives in defense of our Nation. We owe them no less than an absolute commitment to provide them with the support and care they need to return to healthy and productive civilian lives.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today on Tax Day 2008 in strong support of H.R. 5719, the Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act. I commend Chairman Rangel and Ranking Member McCrery for bringing this bill to the floor and working hard to simplify our tax policies. Today's Tax Code has become so complex that it takes more than 25 hours to complete an itemized tax return. That is an hour longer than 2003, and 10 hours longer other than 1989. Families will benefit significantly from this legislation which strengthens identity theft and tax fraud protections, stops taxpayer harassment by ending the private collection of Federal taxes, and expands tax refund assistance for low-income Americans. I am also pleased that the provisions in the Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act increase online fraud security and allows individuals to have better recourse in the event of a crime. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5719.